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Friday Facts- Illiteracy, Tetherballs and Nazis

:: Number of light bulbs used in the 30-foot-tall “YOU ARE NOW ALMOST HOME” sign on the Wendell Willkie Bridge: 20,016

:: Number of workers killed in construction of the massive sign in 1949: 3

:: Number of ex-Nazis given the key to the city: 1

:: Percentage of sixth-grade students who read below the “Level of Acceptability,” according to state test results released this week: 52

:: Number of Voit tether and volleyballs still left from the budget overages of 1988: 8,100

:: Where they are stored: The food court of the City Hall Underground Shopping Concourse, closed in 1992

:: Average response time for ambulance/emergency services, citywide: 5.5 minutes

:: Number of City Council members required under the city’s original charter: 50

:: Number of City Council members required under the revised 1971 charter (also known as “The CC Implosion”): 12

Well, that’s it for the first week of The City Desk. Thanks for reading and remember, if you have any questions or tips, feel free to send them in- thecitydesk@gmail.com. Also, if you like what you’ve seen so far, let your friends know. – R. White